No increase in area under maize in last three years

Agriculture department officials revealed that though farmers were interested in cultivating maize,but were discouraged due to lack of assured procurement of the crop. In 2011,out of 1.50-lakh hectare targeted area,only 1.40 hectare could be brought under the crop. In 2009-10,1.39-lakh hectare area was cultivated under maize with an average yield of 34.14 quintal per hectare.

Maize is mostly cultivated in Hoshiarpur,Gurdaspur,Jalandhar,Nawan Shahar,Kapurthala,Ropar,Patiala,Mohali,Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana.

Agriculture department joint director Tarsem Singh,who has been looking after maize cultivation in the state,confirmed that for the past three years the department had maintained the same area under maize cultivation in the state. “Though farmers get good price for maize produce,but there is no assured procurement of the crop which discourages more farmers to adopt maize cultivation,” Singh said.

He said the government had been trying to provide around 30,000 quintal seeds to farmers in the coming season,and provide technical guidance to farmers.

Anand Marriage Act: Sikhs in US call it historic

Washington: Sikhs in the United States have welcomed the passage of Anand Marriage Act by the Parliament and termed it as a historic day for their community in the country.

“Not having a full recognition of their observances and their customs in India had created a sense of lack among Sikhs and it questioned their independent identity as a community. This thoughtful action by the elected leaders of India honours the Sikh tradition and its validity,” said Rajwant Singh,chairman of the Washington-based Sikh Council.

I J Singh,a New York-based Sikh commentator and author of several Sikh books,said the passage of Anand Marriage Act was obviously important for Sikhs in India and Sikhs across the world.